Carrot Crunchers

We wanted to rent an allotment in previous seasons but found the lists long and closed.

This adventure all started when the Allotment lists re-opened in March 09. A quick application to the St Louis Site and a few month further waiting. Then came the call from Allotment Al, we had come to the top of the list and some plots had been made available!

I visited the site with my kids, and we took on plot 44N (as only half plots are now available, which is a shame , but will reduce the waiting). It did not look good, the weeds and grass were over waist height and the ground was very hard. Knowing the situation with the waiting lists, thought myself lucky to be actually looking at our own little plot.

The council strimmed all the plots that had been recently let and we started planning the course of action for the coming weeks. Hit it hard, we thought, go for the big bang approach whilst we still have the weather and light evenings. During this time, making a few friends when meeting the adjoining new and existing plot holders. Quite a few of us in a group are new to the site and complete novices too, so lots to learn for the hardened allotmenters!

To rotavate or not to rotavate……that was the question

We took the hard manual option and the initial digging was hard going, but rewarding when broken down into small chunks. Wow we took out a lot of roots and rubbish from the ground, we now have a compost heap too.

I had a few plants at home, so they were put in very late in the season, so hopefully we will have something to show for our efforts, even if they are ruined by the weather (but so far so good!!).

Now into mid November, we have met all the adjoining allotment holders, erected the nerve centre of the plot (being the shed, marked with our site number and name, the carrot crunchers on a sexy little slate plate) and started putting in our grape vine wires and a few other bits in preparation for the spring.

Digging continues in anger, weather and dark evenings permitting.

So far so good, there are some lovely people up on our site (as there are on them all I would expect) that are willing to pop over for a chat and give advice and encouragement. I think they are pleased to see areas of the site that were previously very overgrown, now being worked on and cared for.

If you are on the St Louis site, pop over and see us………

Comments about this page

  • Hello Carrot Crunchers, I think my plot is next to yours and I do look over at your neat plot and lovely coloured shed. I am 43/1 with my slightly wonky shed and home made composts heap etc but I love the bit I have got despite the dreadful amount of stones I am digging up! I have beans and onions, potatoes and sweetcorn, tomatoes and courgettes and the odd weed! I have big plans for a puffy allotment with raised beds and flowers too and if so see me hacking away with a bandanna on usually, my name is Julia and pop over! I have seen several people on site and everyone is very nice and helpful. I think Allan is lovely! The only bad thing about the location is the noisy house accross the road on a weekend sometimes, I think I will have to take ear plugs! See you there sometime! Kind regards Julia

    By Julia (11/06/2010)
  • If anyone is interested i have added a FACEBOOK group last year called The tenants of St Louis Allotments Perhaps a way of sharing info, reporting anything like breakins and vandalism to each other – help Alan etc

    By Carrot Cruncher (27/01/2011)
  • Hi all, I’m now looking for a co-worker to share the allotment from this season 2011, please leave a message for me this site if you, or anyone you know may be interested, if you want to do some growing but not the hard digging that would be fine, please get in touch.

    By carrot cruncher (29/01/2011)
  • Thank God, we have water restored to our site today. And I have a plot buddy for this season, time to get growing!!!!

    By carrot cruncher (03/05/2011)

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